January 2022 Rabbi Arnow's Message
Author | |
Date Added | |
Automatically create summary | |
Summary |
I was on a Zoom program one day in early December for three and a half hours. It was painful. I think we might be reaching the beginning of the real Zoom era – when Zoom is used selectively to bridge distance, for short periods of time. But I hope that the era of long Zooms is coming to an end.
For us at Kol Rinah, we, and I, have noticed that attendance at Zoom programs is waning. But in-person gatherings are very much not back to how they used to be. People don’t linger. We don’t serve much food. Many don’t feel comfortable coming at all, or are just out of the habit.
Attendance at services is roughly half (or less) of what it was pre-COVID. And yet people are not quitting Kol Rinah in droves; rather, our membership is actually up slightly!
COVID, I think, accelerated certain existing trends – a continued interest in synagogue life and community, and a decreasing interest in prayer and “services.” Another time, we can discuss what is causing these trends. But for now I’m interested in exploring responses.
One response is to reinvest and refocus on prayer and services, to try to reverse or at least slow this trend. After all, we are a synagogue – what else should we be focusing on?
But putting the same (or greater) resources into prayer services that are serving half as many people as previously, scarcely 10% of our congregational population in a given month now, feels like it’s ignoring reality, and the hundreds of people – people like you–speaking with their feet.
The question, then, is what else should we be doing, if not only (re)focusing on prayer? Should we refocus on social action and social justice? Or learning and intellectual life? Maybe we should focus on community and relationships, or thinking about stages of life and lifecycle periods and moments, or holidays and seasons.
There is, of course, no obvious and perfect solution or path. I find myself thinking about what it would look like to reinvent much of what we do, to make it feel fresh, exciting, current, deep, fun, rejuvenating, nourishing, and connecting.
We can’t do it all though. Are we willing to let go of some of what we’ve done to create possibilities, to innovate, to make space and time for some things to end and other things to begin and grow?
What would you be willing to let go of? And what would you be interested in seeing and building? I’d love to hear, and with each of you, to help Kol Rinah grow into its new self.
Fri, March 29 2024
19 Adar II 5784
MISSION: Create a welcoming community that embraces Torah, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, music, Israel, and tikkun olam, guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism.
Calendar & Services
Weekday minyans on Zoom:
Mornings- M, T, W, F 7am & Sun 8am.
Evenings- Sun-Th 6pm.
Log in to view the Zoom Links page.
Thursday mornings 7am are in-person only.
Shabbat services in-person, streaming.
To stream kolrinahstl.org/kr-streaming
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Friday 9am – 3pm
Phone: 314-727-1747
Today's Calendar
: 6:30pm |
: 8:30pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Mar 28 |
Mar 30 |
Mar 30 |
Mar 31 |
Apr 6 |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Tzav
Candle Lighting
Friday, Mar 29, 7:05pm |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Mar 30, 8:09pm |
Parshat Parah
Shabbat, Mar 30 |
Find it at Kol Rinah
Reserve/Purchase
- Memorial Plaques or Header
Shavua Tov
Contribute to a Shabbat Kiddush
Celebrate life-cycle events or honor a loved one. A Shabbat Kiddush is a beautiful way of sharing a moment with the community!
Want to sponsor a specific Kiddush? Contact Barbara Shamir,
Event Request
FAQ's
Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784